California start-up Karmic have launched what they say is "the bike of the future" called the Oslo. It has a throttle, three levels of assistance and no gears, and blurs the lines between e-bike and scooter more than we've ever seen before.
Buying and riding an S-pedelec in the UK
Karmic say they believe "mobility is opportunity and unlocks the potential in everyone", and the Oslo is the answer with sustainability at its core, and a design that they think will get more people on electric bikes - even those who would never consider themselves to be cyclists.
The patent-pending design includes a long, comfortable saddle with storage underneath to stash your valuables. it has a top speed of 20mph (which means you'll need to register it as a pedelec in the UK) and the standard battery pack give you up to 20 miles of "real world" range. There are three levels of assistance: 'eco', 'normal' and 'boost'.
Karmic say the throttle is a useful addition for setting you off at traffic lights quickly and easily, and it's probably also more fun of course.
Karmic's crowdfunder for the Oslo has currently raised £11,646 of their £160,000 goal, and early backers can reserve a Founder Edition for $1,499 (around £1,200). Check it out on Kickstarter here and find out more on the Karmic website here.
